Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 Press Conference
Yesterday, CEF attended a press conference for the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 (SAFRA).
George Miller (D-CA) speaks about the upcoming Pell Grant bill in Congress
The bill aims to expand Pell Grants, Direct Loans, community colleges, and early childhood education. At the press conference, the podium was surrounded by college students supporting the bill. The student wore t-shirts bearing their colleges’ names while holding signs that said things like “I can’t afford college” and “subsidize students, not banks.” The Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, George Miller (D-CA), began speaking about the bill. He said that the $87 billion invested in SAFRA would make college more affordable, create more community colleges, make the student loan program easier, and help pay down the deficit. Chairman Miller’s argument for the latter point was that the bill would save $87 billion over the next ten years.
US Education Secretary Arne Duncan spoke next about how President Obama agrees with the goal of improving education. Secretary Duncan noted that 25 years ago the US led the world in producing college graduates and that this is no longer the case. He demonstrated concern not just for the college age students receiving Pell Grants but also for smart fifth and sixth graders who he worried might lose their dreams of going to college because it has become so unaffordable. Secretary Duncan argues that the expanded Pell Grant spending in SAFRA will keep these students’ dreams alive. Arne Duncan also spoke on the community college expansion portion of the bill. He noted how community colleges were unpolished gems that were needed to keep the economy alive. Not only do they serve new students, but they also help train the unemployed for new careers. Duncan brought up that SAFRA will not cost a single taxpayer dollar; rather, it is a reinvestment that will stop subsidizing banks and start putting kids in college. He also stressed the need to focus not just on getting kids into college, but getting them to graduate as well.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) says education is one of the Obama Administration's priorities
Several congressional leaders stepped up to the podium after Secretary Duncan. Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX), chair of two education subcommittees, described the low graduation rates among American high school students. He argued that the bill will increase graduation rates, especially among minorities. Then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told the crowd how education is one of President Barack Obama’s three pillars of economic growth. Speaker Pelosi argued that education will strengthen our democracy and that it’s the best investment the United States can make in its
citizens. Speaker Pelosi said that this bill is the biggest education spending bill since the G.I. bill, yet it will save taxpayers $10 billion in the long run.
Republican Congressman Tom Petri is a strong supporter of education and Direct Loans.
Nancy Pelosi brought up that higher education has been unaffordable; she was followed on the podium by college student Jelisa Difon. Ms. Dilfon is a senior at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst who described her struggles with paying for college since her freshman year. She’s had to hold several jobs while at college and still has over $40 thousand in debt to student loans. Ms. Dilfon told the crowd that she recently received a letter from Sallie Mae alerting her that her loan’s interest rates had been increased. When Congressman Tom Petri (R-WI) took the podium, he mentioned that the guaranteed loan program currently in place costs taxpayers while Direct Loans program in the SAFRA bill saves money. Representative Petri has supported Direct Loans since the Clinton administration.
2009 William H. Natcher Award winner Tim Bishop (D-NY) elevated the priority of education funding during this session of Congress. He will be at our Gala September 30th to receive the award.
Representative Tim Bishop also spoke at the SAFRA press conference. He brought up how this bill will help students because it will maintain the time value of Pell Grants by adjusting for inflation. Congressmen Bishop noted that it will also make the financial aid process simpler while saving taxpayer money. He stressed that education is an obligation of the United States; this isn’t surprising because the Committee for Education Funding is awarding Representative Bishop the William H. Natcher Award at our 2009 Gala. This award is for his dedication to elevating the priority of education funding to ensure better opportunities during this session of Congress. Congressman Bishop will be at the Gala on September 30th to accept the award. Bishop noted that he is optimistic that SAFRA will pass this week. The bill passed rules today and will be debated today and tomorrow, September 17th, when it is expected to be voted on in the House of Representatives.
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Posted by Sandy Ginsburg
CEF Intern
Cornell University class of 2011
